New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-05

sstavs a scme rsees IN sne grsss nsns many
Adsd ehassstr-ths capacity which has been
eoaal 10 these effects must deserve more liberal
estimate than It has hitherto received. Ana
| Boswell did more thau all this. While concen-
tfating his attention and cares upon Johnson ne
drew. in lower relief but still clearly and firmly
| whole groups of his contemporaries. we nave
been made acquainted with them ell. the hraies'
pr. Buruey and his charming daughter, Sir Joshua
REYNOLDS. Burke, Garriei, Topham beauc'eFR'
pennet. Janoton. Malone Thomas Warton, Adam
Smith. Goldsmith, Dick Savage, and how many
more but for Boswelps genius is 1T not pfooaoie
that with regard to many OF these our knowiedge
to-day would be far less intimate, our feehngs
far less cordial than they aref For IL Is
,ecnl;arity of Boswell that though he has more
than a spice of malice in his composition though
bis self-conceit is so colossal as to Keep MIN
always bristling against possible sights, he YET
contriyes to present most Of his dramatis persona
in the best light and to illustrate their largest
ATTITUDES In some interesting and amusing anec-
dote or example.
DIR. Hill observes in the preface: II had indeed
mt one time intended to enlarge this relation ny
ESSAYS on Boswell, johnson, Mrs. Thrale and per-
hans ON other subjects 1t is greatly to be
regretted that he did not adhere to this purpose,
and it is sincerely TO be hoped that In future
edition he may make the suggested additions
which are sure to be valuable and which may
he trusted to throw even some new light upon tne
subjects In the work before us the editor mas
done his duty most judicously. lie has ln MS
own words ATTEMPTED not to crinclse ou' "
illustrate Johnson's statements In ofdef u
show what johnson really thought it Is necessary
often to 60 to his printed works, Tor, as ne hii
g. tcfOy
self said sometimes he talked 1or vicuory'
but he was too conscientious to perpetuate error
by writing it. DR.. Hill has performed service
which will be appreciated in citing from Johnsons
collected works whenever his spoken and written
views seem to differ and it is desirable 10
which he really held. The scrupuious WERNER VI
quotations apparently may experience mover
emotion occasionally in tracing up those useo
in the life of johnson, for Dr. Hill remarks In
one case my long search was REWARDED oy JUG
discovery that Boswell was quoting himself
will the footnotes are abundant, for the
moot mart original and generally sufficient, longer
a,,,,notions and discussions than could be thrown
in that form have been used as appendices. Vi
hose there are several in nearly every volume'
owl r,pv of them deal with fresh information.
The little essay on Johnson's feelings toward inc
founders of the United States, for example, goes
n show that the antipathy manifested py MN
a. the Colonists was really attributable TO inc
.,-enctb Of his adherence Of slavery. lie coulu
rot reconcile il to his conscience that the men
who talked so boldly about the rights oil men
cou,d be sincere so long rs they continued 10
traffic in their fellow creatures. This vie" Vi
tho situation Dr. Hill considers dominated Jonh-
sons expressions on American affairs. low nc
dsnosed OF the awkward fact that the HALL
,enance of the slave trade was due 70 inc
obstinate inhumanity Of the British Govefhmeh'
itself aud how he got over the other eircu'nso'"'e
that the Colonists had prote sted ana petiOloncu
arainst the continuation OF the INFAMOUS eohi-
merce is not explained, perhaps for the reason
that there is really no explanation OF II possible
save the warping effect of Johnson's Ioryism.
Among the new matter here published for the
FIRST time DIR. Ilill cites the following: FIFTEEN
b;therto Unpublished letters OF johnson; his col
lece composition in Latin prose; long extract
from his manuscript diary; suppressed passage
in his Journey to the Western Islands; Bos-
Wells letters OF acceptance of the Office OF Secre-
tary for Foreign Correspondence TO the Royal
Academy: the proposal for the publication OF
Geographical Dictionary issued by Johnsons De-
loved friend, DR.. Bathurst; and Mr. Recorder
Longfay's record OF hsconversationwith Johnson Cd
Greek metres DR.. Hill appears 70 hold higher
rantcd by the actual merit OF those exercises.
Croker, as is well known, once asked the Marquis
Wellesley, who was an authority on the subject,
what he thought of Johnson's verses, and LORD
Wellesley, under pledge OF secrecy lrst exactec
from his interrogation, replied that they were all
bad, but that some of them were worse than others
II this opinion be sound the composition from the
Pembroke College MSS. is not Of much Importance
DR.. Hill justly prides himself upon his index
which fills more than half the sixth volume, and
which in every page exhibits the most labored and
conscientious research. lie has also deserved well
of men of letters by a concordance of Johnsonian
SAYINGS Next TO Shakespeare" he observes he
is, believe, quoted and msquoted the most fire.
quently vf all writer's; and here at least is
help against the further msquotation Of him.
Taking it altogether DR.. Birkbeck Ilrs edition Of
Boswell may perhaps be regarded as the most schoi
aiIy, painstaking, Hberalminded, fair and COM
pctc that has yet been published. No doubt 1t
has faults and omissions, but it is honest work
throughout and careful and loving work, and 1t is
Informed by sanity and rpeness OF Judgment
and illustrated by an extent of information which
must place and keep it in the front rank.
ZEN fluctuations